Giants angry over ‘terrible’ obstruction call in loss to Marlins Originally appeared in NBC Bay Area Sports
SAN FRANCISCO – Following a Frustrating one-run defeat On Saturday, when the Miami Marlins faced the Giants, the latter were bitter about a controversial call that led to the scoring of the decisive run.
The play occurred in the seventh inning when Miami’s Otto Lopez walked and then stole second base. Giants catcher Patrick Bailey threw to shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald, who appeared to tag him before second base umpire Ryan Blakney signaled safe because Fitzgerald had apparently obstructed the runner.
Giants manager Bob Melvin asked the umpires to review the play again, and after a brief meeting among the four, the original decision to rule the pitcher safe was upheld.
“They called it obstruction and I don’t know how that affects the play,” Melvin said after the Giants’ 4-3 loss. “I mean, (Lopez) is sliding to the back of the bag. Yeah, (Fitzgerald’s) foot is in front of the pocket, but when he was sliding to the back of the bag, you’re trying to tag and it doesn’t affect the play. I don’t know how that call can be made. There should be some feeling involved with that, is what I was told.”
Major League Baseball has instructed umpires to be more diligent this season with obstruction plays, particularly those at second and third base.
That was emphasized to all 30 teams during spring training, though there weren’t many instances where the rule went into effect back then.
This has been happening more frequently lately, and Fitzgerald is the latest infielder to be caught up in this mess.
“I thought it was a terrible decision,” Fitzgerald said. “My foot was originally in front of the base, but I pulled it back. Maybe by rule it was obstruction, but in no way did I obstruct the runner. He slid and was able to get to the base. I tried to move my foot so he could get to the base. I didn’t think I was obstructing at all.”
Fitzgerald said he was aware of the obstruction rule, but felt he handled the play fairly.
“It’s a bang-bang play, where you play on the grass and then you run to second base while the ball is being thrown in the air,” he said. “It’s hard to know where your left foot is at all times. Usually what I try to do is move my left foot while I’m catching the ball so (the runner) doesn’t hit my foot. That’s what I think I did.”
Marlins manager Skip Schumaker obviously agreed with the umpires’ decision to allow Lopez to remain on second base. He scored two batters later and the Marlins went on to win.
“They did well,” Schumaker said. “I thought they were going to call it a lot after spring training. That’s all I heard, that we’re going to be aggressive on that call. I’ve watched it, and it hasn’t been called a lot, to be honest. I thought the umpires did well on the initial call and then they got back to it, and I think they still did well.”
Teams cannot challenge the obstruction rule, but can ask the umpires for a review, although replay was not used.
“In spring training, when they came up with this rule, it’s not a knee-jerk decision. It’s not something you’re looking for,” Melvin said. “So they said you could ask the umpires to meet, and they met. But it’s the second base umpire’s decision. I don’t know how you can make that decision if it doesn’t affect the play. It’s one thing to slide into his foot and have him obstruct the runner. He didn’t do that.”